History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 94

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

with great force, but as soon as this strong sea-breeze strikes the bay it spreads out like a fan and loses its strength and chilly coldness. At the same time the warm rays of the sun falling upon the sandy soil of Oakland, rarefies the atmosphere and lifts these summer winds from the earth's surface, thus, these strong winds and dense fogs that prevail in San Francisco at certain seasons of the year, seldom reach Oakland; they are either killed or much modified by the same natural causes. The statistics of the Health Officer relating to the recent epidemic of small-pox, show conclusively that there is nothing in the climate or soil of Oakland to feed an epidemic. The soil is sandy and there is but little or no vegetable decomposition in the vicinity to generate malaria.

" For many years Oakland has taken the lead on the Pacific Coast in the number and rank of educational institutions, and within the past year the State University has been located at Berkeley, a suburb of this city, which establishes her position per- manently as the educational center of the State. The securing of the terminus of the Western Pacific Railroad promises to result in the dredging of the bar and converting the San Antonio Creek into a basin five miles in extent, capable of receiving ships of ordinary draught, at any stage of tide, which, in my judgment, is all that is required to elevate Oakland to a prominent commercial position.

" At the time of the settlement of the water-front controversy, two reservations were secured.

" The arm of the San Antonio Creek north of the Oakland Bridge was dedicated perpetually for a public lake. Since then a dam has been constructed near the bridge at a cost of at least twenty thousand dollars, converting this branch of the creek into a beautiful lake. A road sixty feet in width and four miles in extent is now being built around the border of the lake, which, when completed, will be one of the most inviting drives in California. Not less than half a million of dollars has been added to the value of property by this limited expenditure of money, and at no dis- tant day this lake and road will become one of the most attractive features of Oak- land.

"The second reservation is for a public landing, and embraces that part of the water front lying between the middle of Webster and the middle of Franklin Streets, and extending southerly to a line parallel with Front Street, and two hundred feet southerly from the present wharf according to the official map of the city, with the rights of dockage, wharfage, and tolls. Soon after it became known that the above described property had been reserved for the city, certain parties attempted to take possession under a pretended lease to the San Francisco and Oakland Railroad Com- pany. I at once caused their arrest and had the lot inclosed for the city. Subse- quently the railroad company instituted suit to quiet title to the property in question, claiming that the City Council had granted this property to the said company for a 'marine railway and wharf.' The City Attorney set up in answer to said claim that the city had no authority under the charter to lease, sell, or in any manner dispose of city property except by public auction to the highest bidder; that said pretended lease was conditional, and that none of the conditions had been complied with.

"On the first day of the present term of the Third Judicial District Court, Judge McKee rendered his decision against the said railroad company and in favor of the city of Oakland."

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

In the month of July, 1868, small-pox made its appearance in Oakland as an epidemic. For some time prior to this it had been spreading in San Francisco with fearful results. The Council at once passed an ordinance creating a Board of Health and vested the same with full powers to do everything possible to prevent the spread of this loathsome malady. The Board worked wonders. Under an arrangement with Alameda County, represented by F. K. Shattuck, Supervisor from Oakland Town- ship, the cost of procuring a pest-house was to be equally divided between the city and the county, and the expense of maintaining the same was to be paid in propor- tion to the number of patients, the pest-house being purchased and maintained for city and county purposes. This department is one of the most useful in the city gov- ernment.

At a special meeting of the City Council held April 13, 1869, for the purpose of expressing their sentiments at the loss of so prominent and esteemed a citizen as the Rev. I. H. Brayton, a Committee consisting of Messrs. Campbell, Little, and Spauld- ing was appointed to draft the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :.-

WHEREAS, Our Heavenly Father in his all-wise but inscrutable providence, has seen fit to call from among us one of the most prominent and most useful citizens of Oakland, REV. I. H. BRAYTON, therefore

Resolved, That this Council deems it fit to give expression to the public grief at the death of Professor Brayton, by·hearing testimony to his upright Christian character, his pure life, his admirable courtesy, his untiring energy, . his fine public spirit, his rare wisdom, and his self-sacrificing devotion to the great interests of education.

Resolved, That this Council attend in a body the funeral of our lamented friend and fellow-citizen.

Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the daily papers, and that a copy of them be presented to the bereaved family, to whom, in their sore affliction, we tender our heartfelt sympathy.

In the year 1869 there was formed the Oakland and Encinal Turnpike and Ferry Company, an association of residents in what is now the town of Alameda, who were desirous of some cheap and expeditious communication with Oakland, so that they could make their purchases there instead of in San Francisco, and in order that they could have the benefit of the Oakland day and night boats. They proposed a turnpike to the edge of the creek and a ferry across, using during the pleasure of the Council a space for a landing at the foot of Franklin Street, not exceeding forty feet in width, sub- ject to such conditions of avoiding any obstruction to the navigation as might be proper. The design was, in short, to make the communication as cheap and expeditious as prac- ticable so as to be for the mutual benefit of the merchants and business men of Oak- land and the residents on the Encinal. The stockholders of the company did not anticipate any profit upon the money expended except as it might promote their con- venience and indirectly benefit their property. They were willing to raise the money if the Council would allow them a place for the landing. The names of the gentlemen who were interested in the scheme were, E. B. Mastick, Charles Baum, Thomas Davenport, H. H. Haight, Charles Meinecke, Charles Minturn, B. H. Ramsdell, Henry Vrooman, and C. H. King. Their prayer was granted, May 24th, and on the same date an ordinance was passed in accordance therewith, but it was afterwards vetoed by the Mayor and sustained by the Council, referred back to the Ordinance and Judiciary Committee, and, on their recommendation, finally became law June 21, 1869.

In the year 1869 the great Overland Railroad had joined the Atlantic and Pacific

668

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Oceans, and all rejoiced in the accomplishment of so great a fcat, but scarce had the echo of the reverberating cannon announcing the fact died away amid the canons of the Contra Costa Range than the entire community was cast into gloomy grief by one of the saddest railroad accidents that ever has occurred on this coast. The sad event is thus graphically portrayed by the Alameda County Gazette: "The most frightful railroad accident that has ever occurred in California was that of Sunday morning last (November 14, 1869), between the Alameda-bound train on the Alameda Railroad and the Eastern-bound train on the Western Pacific Railroad, about three miles below San Leandro. About half an hour after the train left the place (San Leandro) a young man named Spear, came dashing into town on horseback and announced the catastrophe. A freight train with two locomotives attached was standing on the side- track at this station, awaiting the arrival of the Eastward-bound train. The Conduc- tor of this train was immediately informed of the disaster, and the telegraph operator sent the news to head-quarters. The engineers did not dare to leave the station with- out orders. The news had spread like wild-fire through the town, and but a few moments elapsed ere every conveyance, public and private, was engaged to convey the anxious inhabitants of San Leandro to the scene of the accident; and the railroad track was lined with pedestrians who were unable to get conveyances. The scene presented upon our arrival beggars description. The wrecked trains, with their engines and cars smashed and shivered, the groans and shrieks of the wounded, the mutilated remains of the dead, the tumult and confusion of those who were endeavor- ing to render assistance, combined to make the picture horrible in the extreme, and indelibly impress it upon the memory of every beholder. The Alameda train con- sisted of the locomotive F. D. Atherton, one box-car, three passenger-cars, smoking- car, and one express and baggage car. The Western Pacific train consisted of the locomotive Sonoma, two express and baggage cars, smoking-car, two passenger-cars, and one sleeping-car. The Alameda train passed San Leandro Station nearly on time (8:45), and was due at Simpson's, the junction of the two roads, at 8:55. The Eastward-bound train of the Western Pacific Railroad left Oakland Wharf at 8:30, and was also due at Simpson's at 8:55.

" At the time of the accident the sun was shining brightly at San Leandro, but in the direction of Alameda could be seen a heavy bank of fog, which, at the scene of the accident, was said to be so dense that objects could not be distinguished at fifty yards. The Engineer of the Alameda train, the only living witness who can speak understandingly of the subject, saw the Western Pacific train approaching. To pull the whistle, shut down breaks, was the work of an instant, and having done so, he shouted to the fireman to jump for his life, and then leaped from the engine. He struck the ground, rolled over two or three times and then heard a terrible crash; the two engines had smashed into atoms and for a moment he was enveloped in the scalding, escaping steam. Then came the groans and shrieks of the wounded, the agonized cries of the mangled and torn sufferers, and hasty exodus of the affrighted who were uninjured. Two cars were 'telescoped' on each train; one run into and through the other like the shutting of a spy-glass, or telescope. The telescoped cars of the Western Pacific train exhibited a more terrible sight. In one end of the car were some sixteen men, most of them dead-all of them injured-jammed and tangled

669

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

with a mass of sticks, splinters, and iron. The work of breaking away the outer shell of the car seemed terribly slow to the sympathizing laborers, and doubly so to the poor sufferers within, to whom the interval between the rapid blows of the deliverers' axes seemed as an age to their moments of agony. But two persons were killed on the Alameda train-the fireman, Martin, and one passenger. The noise of the crash attracted people to the spot from the neighboring farms and dwellings, couriers were dispatched for axes and other implements to clear away the wreck, and telegrams were sent to the nearest stations. Those who were present immediately set to work with all their might and energies to extricate the passengers from the ruins." Those who were thus suddenly launched into eternity were: John D. McDonald, Roadmaster on the California Pacific (Vallejo) Railroad; Max Ehrman, a merchant at the Mission San José; George Thompson, fireman on the Western Pacific train; Charles Martin, fireman on the Alameda train; James Conley, a farmer residing at Corral Station, Livermore Valley; Ritchison Peterson, identified by papers in his pockets. Identified as a member of Wildey Encampment, No. 22, I. O. O. F., San Francisco; David Wand, dry-goods merchant, San Francisco, and brother-in-law of Ehrman; Judge Alexander W. Baldwin, known to his friends as "Sandy" Baldwin, Judge of the United States District Court of Nevada; Edward Anderson, engineer on the Western Pacific train; Arsene Boulet, French Private School, corner of Fifth and Franklin streets, Oakland; Bunce H. Fox, identified by his ticket; Frank B. Millikin, brake- man on the Western Pacific train; J. P. Lowell, of Sacramento, cattle-dealer; taken from the wreck alive, but died of his injuries; Thomas F. Sandoz, a native of Natchez, Mississippi, aged forty-eight years. Of the wounded, most of whom were taken to Doctor Trenor's hospital in Alameda, there were: Seth Bromley, pilot of the Stockton boat, right ankle terribly shattered, rendering amputation necessary below the knee; J. R. Helens, of San Francisco, left leg, hand, and foot bruised ;. James F. Kapp, for- merly proprietor of the Gazette, head and right leg bruised; Simon Meloche, of San Francisco, hip dislocated, with a number of contusions; Thomas McNulty, San Fran- cisco, fracture of the fibula and bruises, able to be sent to his residence; G. Leighton, Rocklin, Placer County, leg broken; Philip Ruby, Stockton, shoulder dislocated and severely bruised; Noel Langton, an employé on the Western Pacific Road, both legs broken; Patrick Mehan, San Francisco, leg bruised and severe internal injuries; E. F. Fitch, Cosumnes, school-teacher, leg broken; Joseph L. Perkins, employé on the Western Pacific Road, badly injured internally; C. E. Needham, of Banta's Station, leg broken; S. M. B. Haly, San Francisco, injured internally; Judge William Camp- bell, of Nevada, leg broken; Robert McLaughlin, brakeman on the Alameda train, seriously injured; Robert Owens, conductor on the Alameda train, seriously injured; John L. Beard, Mission San José, foot badly injured; T. W. Finlayson, teacher at Washington Corners, leg badly injured and face cut; J. J. Hill, of San Francisco, injured in one of hips, and hands, having been thrown up into the car at a distance extending over five seats; J. H. Downer, wounded in the head; Wells, Fargo & Co's. messenger, badly hurt; M. L. Taylor, of Chicago, bruised. Two Chinamen were badly bruised.

"It is a pleasing duty to record the noble and heroic conduct of the women residing in the vicinity of the accident in' assisting to alleviate the sufferings of the

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

wounded and in rendering those delicate attentions that woman's hand alone can render. They contributed liberally of linen, lint, and bandages, assisted the surgeons in their nerve-trying duties, and their noble efforts relieved many a sufferer who will forever remember them with gratitude and thanks. One lady, a passenger on the Western Pacific train (whose name we did not learn), rendered signal assistance in attending to the wounded. As soon as they were taken out, she tore up her linen skirts to make bandages and was unremitting in her attentions, accompanying the wounded to Alameda."

But why pursue the heart-rending theme; suffice it to say, a Coroner's inquest was held upon the bodies of the deceased and a verdict was rendered in accordance with the evidence which went to prove that the main cause of the catastrophe was the ignorance and incompetency of Bernard Kane, the switchman employed at Simp- son's Station, a man that could neither read nor write.

On receipt of the intelligence Oakland was thrown into a state of the most intense excitement, and the dire calamity was canvassed on every side. On Tuesday, the 16th, several of the dead were buried in Oakland. The funeral of Judge Baldwin took place from the residence of his brother-in-law, the Hon. J. B. Felton, and was attended by the Masonic Fraternity and members of the Bar, while, on the 15th, the City Council passed the following resolution of condolence :-

WHEREAS, In view of the great calamity which occurred yesterday, the 14th instant, in the collision of pas- senger trains on the railroad a few miles south of the city, involving death and injury to many persons, which has brought mourning to the homes of several of our own citizens, including that of his Honor, the Mayor, therefore be it

Resolved, That this Council do adjourn in token of respect to the sufferers.

The remains of Monsieur Boulet were temporarily placed in the old cemetery on Webster Street; while those of Bronson H. Fox, of Illinois, were buried in Mountain View Cemetery by the Masonic Fraternity.

Among the events of general interest that occurred in the city of Oakland dur- ing the year 1869, was the opening of the Union Savings Bank, with A. C. Henry as President, on July Ist, while, about the same time, the Mutual Provident Association of Oakland was organized, N. W. Spaulding being its President. In this year the Oakland Transcript was purchased by Col. John Scott and converted into a Demo- cratic organ; and on the 29th of October the last rail of the Pacific Railroad was laid in Oakland, and the first locomotive of the line, the Reindeer, entered the city at five minutes after ten o'clock, A. M., and passed down, with the construction train attached to it, to the Point. The first passenger through train started at half past eight o'clock, from Oakland Point, on the morning of November 8, 1869, and at a quarter before twelve o'clock two large trains from the East arrived, and at two o'clock, P. M., a long construction train passed through to the Point. The first through overland train arrived in Oakland at five minutes past five o'clock in the evening, and halting only a minute at Broadway, went rushing and shrieking onwards to the Point, amid gen- eral rejoicing.

Early in the year 1869, the Toland Tract Association with a capital stock of twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars, divided into one hundred dollar shares, was organized, the Trustees being Henry Durant, Edward McLean, and Jacob Hardy, its

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

object being the purchase of land to be divided into lots suitable for homesteads. In the month of January, Shattuck & Hillegass' Hall was converted into a theater, and opened as such on the evening of January 25, 1869; meanwhile the enterprise of ship- building was still being kept up, there being at that time a two hundred ton schooner on the stocks at Allen's Yard at Oakland Point. In this year the Mission Church, on Second Street, was built.

To give some idea of the increase of population in Oakland we can draw some facts from the Post-office returns of the year 1868. During the last week of the month of December, 1868, the number of letters received was one thousand three hun- dred and forty, while the receipts from the sale of postal money orders during that year were fourteen thousand five hundred and sixty-eight dollars and ten cents, while those cashed at the office nearly equaled that amount. It will thus be seen that to transact that amount of business and to engage in the large quantity of correspond- ence reverted to above, a large population was necessary, and that Oakland was then fast acquiring. It was a year of great prosperity.

In the year 1869, the splendid Roman Catholic Church on Jefferson Street was commenced, but ere going into detail in respect to the building we will place before the reader a short sketch of the establishment of this denomination in this city.

Thirty years ago a room in a private house served as a place of worship for the Roman Catholics of Oakland and nearly the whole of the present county of Alameda, a priest from the Mission San José occasionally making a visit to celebrate mass and administer the sacraments, and even these occasional visits had to be omitted during the rainy season, owing to bad roads. The first church, a building of the most mod- est description, was erected in 1853, through the exertions of a few of the. congrega- tion, and for some time was the only Roman Catholic place of worship, save the Mis- sion of San José, in the whole of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. We doubt not for the ten years and more which this little building stood, many submissive hearts have knelt in deep devotion before its primitive altar, and many rebellious spirits been soothed within its sacred walls. We can almost now hear the impressive service commenced, the praises chanted, the benediction pronounced, and see the happy few return to their homes, relieved in mind, and for the present with all feuds for- gotten; indeed, it is a pleasant solace to conjecture the earlier citizens of this lovely city, though rough in exterior, still child-like in spirit, fearing the Lord, for if there is ever one time when prayer may be more beneficially asked than at another, it is when deep solitude surrounds us, when the dark future appears to be yet more dark, when thankfulness is to be divided among a small community, and when deep love binds man and woman, youth and maiden, old and young-then, and then only, do the hardened pray with fervor and the wicked seek to be reclaimed.

There was no settled pastor in Oakland until Father King was appointed to the parish, which then included San Pablo, San Leandro, and the Amador Valley, as well as Oakland, in February, 1865. Aided by Father Croke, the original building was enlarged by subsequent additions until it was capable of holding a congregation of several hundreds, but this, too, became inadequate to the needs of the population of Oakland, although several new parishes were formed in the county. In 1869 Father King determined to erect a church on a scale commensurate with the promised impor-

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

tance of the city; accordingly plans were prepared for a building surpassing in dimen- sions anything in the State, though only with the intention of erecting a part of it at first, a design which has been carried out in the present structure. The foundations were laid in that year, but various causes retarded any further progress until May, 1871, when the superstructure was commenced and pushed vigorously forward. Although not completed, the church was consecrated on June 23, 1872, the dedicatory services being conducted by the Most Reverend Archbishop Alemany, attended by the Reverends Fathers Croke, Gibney, and Casedra. Let us here describe this impressive ceremonial. At eleven, o'clock the Archbishop, attended by the Fathers mentioned, the last of whom bore a silver cross, all in full canonicals, proceeded through the center aisle to the entrance of the church, where a procession was formed in the following order: Archbishop Alemany, preceded by Father Casedra, who was supported on his right and left by boys in gowns and Fathers Gibney and Croke. Next came two Sisters in black, twelve Misses, in couples, dressed in white, fifty young Misses attired alike in buff-colored dresses and black aprons, twelve girls also in white, and the Saint Joseph's Benevolent Society of Oakland, in regalia, and with the elegant banner of their Society, bringing up the rear of the cortege. The cere- mony of consecration commenced by the dedication of the church with holy water by the Archbishop, the procession slowly marching around the edifice and through the entrance to the sanctuary. The same rites were observed inside, the Archbishop, accompanied by the attendant priests, passing through the side aisles, around the church. The dedication sermon was preached by Father Hugh Gallagher, of St. Joseph's Church, San Francisco, to whom, two decades before, the Roman Catholics of Oakland were in a great measure indebted for their first place of worship. A history and description of the Church of the Immaculate Conception will be found elsewhere in this work.

In this connection it should be said that mainly through the exertions of Father King the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, located on Webster Street, near the head of Lake Merritt, was dedicated in 1868. It is conducted by the Sisters of the Sacred Names of Jesus and Mary, and is for the education of young ladies. Sev- eral of the pupils are Protestants, nor is there any interference with their religious belief. Should a girl desire instruction in the principles of Catholicity, permission must first be obtained from her parents. Parents of other modes of faith are glad to avail themselves in this country of the educational advantages offered by the Sisters, who are all ladies of the highest refinement and culture. At the academy at San José, and at other institutions on this Coast, many Hebrew as well as Christian young ladies receive their education. Although, like ourself, unable to accept the peculiar dogmas of this Church, Protestants are wise enough to recognize the great moral safe- guards afforded by the watchful supervision of devout and earnest ladies over the mental and moral habits of their children. We have always thought with Professor Seeley, in Ecce Homo, that the great object for which a Christian Church exists is the cultivation of virtue, and it is in the consistency of their lives that Catholics win our admiration. Good works have been the germ of life and the energizing cause of progress in this Church. Where virtues have given place to passions in its his- tory, it has fallen, rising again when gospel morality resumed its sway. "Never,"

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 94

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood Number of Pages: 1206

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206